Red Sanders
●Pterocarpus santalinus, with the common names red sanders, red saunders, red sandalwood, Rakt Chandan, and saunders wood, is a species of Pterocarpus.
●It is endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats mountain range of South India.
●This tree is valued for the rich red color wood & is not aromatic.
●It is known for its rich hue and therapeutic properties are high in demand across Asia.
●It is used in cosmetics, medicinal products, making furniture, woodcraft, and musical instruments.
●Well-drained red soils with graveled loam are suitable for the cultivation.
●It regenerates well in a dry hot climate and requires rainfall ranging from 800 mm to 1000 mm annually for good growth.
●IUCN status: Near Threatened
●Listed in Appendix II of the CITES, which means that a certificate is required in order to export it, that should only be granted if the trade is not detrimental to the survival of the species.
IAEA Safeguards
●International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards are a system of inspection and verification of the peaceful uses of nuclear materials as part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
●By placing the reactors under the IAEA safeguards, India gives the international nuclear energy watchdog access to them.
● This step was taken by the country in 2014 to demonstrate that its nuclear energy programme was for peaceful purposes.
Doubtful Citizens
●A provision for this has been given in the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 under which the NPR is being prepared.
●The 2003 Rules, provides for procedures and processes to be followed for preparing the NPR & NRIC does not say how an individual or a family would be identified as “doubtful”.
●It says that “Local Registrar” – in sub-rule (4) of Rule 4 – would be making such a marking.
●Local officials to identify and decide “doubtful” citizens
●Once an individual or a family is marked as a “doubtful” citizen, they would be
(a) asked to provide information “in a specified proforma”
(b) given the opportunity to be heard by “the Sub-district or Taluk Registrar of Citizen Registration” before a final decision is taken on whether to include them in the NRIC or not.
Twin balance sheet problem
●Twin Balance Sheet problem is the stress on Balance Sheets of both; the Lenders(Banks) & the Borrowers(Corporates).
●Banks suffer the sting of stressed assets that have very little probability of full revival and Corporates have loan and interest obligations that are beyond their current financial standings.
Liquefied natural gas(LNG)
●LNG is natural gas that has been cooled down to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage or transport.
● It takes up about 1/600th the volume of natural gas in the gaseous state.
● It is odorless, colorless, non-toxic, and non-corrosive.
●LNG is normally warmed to make natural gas to be used in heating & cooking as well as electricity generation and other industrial uses.
●LNG can also be kept as a liquid to be used as an alternative transportation fuel.